Category Archives: Family

Bloggings, Family, Travel

Cassie & Jon’s Wedding

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I was worried coming here was a terrible mistake but luckily everyone got sleep and Kelsey is feeling better! We got ready really quick to go downtown. We took the bus the wrong way at first. We finally got downtown around 11:45. We found the restaurant The Standing Order. It was a cool looking restaurant because it used to be a bank. We quickly ordered and ate. Most of us got traditional breakfasts. After eating, Don and I had to take an Uber back to the house to get ready for Cassie and Jon’s wedding. I was happy that the rest of the family stayed downtown to explore.

The wedding was beautiful. It was at Dundas Castle in Queensferry. The weather was awesome, sunny and warm. It was fun seeing Kara and Evan. We drank a little much and stayed out late. I can’t believe the sun doesn’t set until around 10:30 pm here! We went to a pub on our way back to the house. The pub was a place someone told Don about yesterday while he was walking with Lucas. I think they called it The Digger because it was near a cemetery.

I’m glad it seems like everyone had a good time while exploring downtown Edinburgh!

Bloggings, Family, Travel

First Full Day—Driving On The Left Is Crazy

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We got off our overnight flight around 9 am and it was off to get the rental cars. I booked with Arnold Clark which I sort of remembered it being separate from the other car rental places. After walking to the car rental place and having a brief mental panic we were shown the shuttle to Arnold Clark and it was very nearby.

It took awhile to get set up with the cars but everyone at Arnold Clark was very nice. We had a large BMW sedan and Kelsey and Jared had a Nissan SUV. It was a bit of a struggle to get all the bags in the car so luckily we had 2 cars. We were all pretty tired and cranky. Kelsey felt nauseous and sick. I drove to our Airbnb, which is on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The driving was absolutely crazy. I can’t believe we made it to the house actually. Driving on the left and being on the opposite side of the car feels so wrong and different. Marie met us outside her house and had us back into her driveway. She was very nice and showed us around the house. The house is cute. Lucas told her “in Chicago we drive on the right side.”

Today was rough. We ordered Papa John’s. Kelsey was feeling pretty sick all day and none of us could really sleep so we decided to walk to the grocery store for some snacks and breakfast foods. After getting groceries we went to nap. Don and Lucas napped some, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t. I decided to cancel our dinner reservation but then we had no food for dinner, so we ended up going back to the grocery store and got some ready meals that had to be heated. We got lasagna and Shepard pie. It was ok. I decided I needed to go to sleep around 7. Don and Lucas went for a walk because he was quite energetic. I just laid in bed trying to sleep. I felt wired and anxious. My mind was all over the place: was this a huge mistake? Is everyone going to have a terrible time? How are we going to drive here? Is Kelsey going to feel better? After how long without sleep does your body just stop working?

Lucas and Don got back from the walk around 8:30. They had a great time exploring. They found a playground and talked to locals. They ended up on a really high bridge. It was fun to hear about their outing. I finally got to sleep around 9. I woke up later thinking it was almost morning, but it was only 12:45 am!! And Lucas was wide awake!! I was starting to lose it a little bit. When will I be able to sleep again?! Don took Lucas into our bed and I went over to Lucas’s bed. Finally we all fell back asleep and we slept until 9!

Bloggings, Family, Travel

Leaving for Edinburgh

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The Scotland trip is actually here! After over a year of planning, I can’t believe it. Kelsey, Jared, and Adeline left San Antonio early this morning for their flight to Chicago. They said lines were long at the airport and they got to their gate as the plane was boarding! This of course stressed me out a ton because all I could think about were their bags haha. If their bags had been stuck in San Antonio it would have been complicated to get them, especially since the Chicago flight was not connected to the Edinburgh flight.

Luckily, they landed here around 9:30 am safely and with their bags. Then they went to visit one of Kelsey’s friends, Jen, to wait for our evening flight to Edinburgh.

Lucas went to school this morning so Don and I could finish up any last minute packing. My parents arrived at our house around noon. We hung out for a bit then we left for O’Hare around 2:30. We all drove together in my parent’s car. It was a little bit of a struggle getting all the luggage in, so that made me a bit worried for the car and luggage situation in Edinburgh.

Actually getting into the airport and through security seemed like it took forever. Finally, we all met up in the United terminal and got some food. We ate in the food court at Billy Goat Tavern. While I was waiting in line for the food a woman’s laptop fell out of her hands and the corner of it landed right on my left pinky toe. I couldn’t believe it, who has their laptop out while in a food line?! It hurt so bad and still hurts.

On the plane they gave us some Gardetto’s like chips and Lucas liked the rye chips. He said “these are the best chips I’ve ever had in my whole life”. He slept a lot on the flight. At times he would wake up in frustration of being hot and uncomfortable. I think I maybe slept 20 minutes total on the flight. Overall though, Lucas and Adeline had a good flight. The kid behind us puked a couple of times which was concerning, was he sick or motion sick? While landing, Lucas looked out the window and said “where’s all the castles?”

Bloggings, Family, Travel

Heading home

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We woke up to a rainy NYC. Lucas and I were feeling much better. Don had a great time at the wedding.

We all got ready and packed up then we checked out the hotel restaurant. There was a nice buffet at the Hotel Indigo. We got breakfast and coffee.

We had a pleasant surprise of being able to see Miguel at breakfast. Lucas had fun showing his rocket toy to him. It was good to catch up a bit especially since I missed the wedding.

After breakfast we had to head to LaGuardia. We made our way to the new fountain Lucas really wanted to see. It was nice to sit in front of it and have some lunch.

On the flight home Lucas slept most of the time. He is really becoming quite the traveler. I really can’t wait until our next trip!

Bloggings, Family, Travel

Flushing

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We woke up pretty exhausted from a terrible sleep. Lucas’s cough is worse but no fever.

Khris made us some delicious breakfast sandwiches. After breakfast we packed up to go Queens. Lucas was looking pretty miserable but he perked up when we got to the Hall of Science in Queens.

He really wanted to “see the science”. The first thing he wanted to do was play mini golf. After golf we played with bubbles. Then we went inside to look around a bit. We had a bit of an argument on if Lucas was allowed to get a rocket toy, ultimately we let him get it. I was super tired and ready to get to the hotel.

On the way to the hotel I lost my cool a few times. The driving and the parking situation at the hotel were not ideal. Once we got checked into Hotel Indigo though things were better. Don went out and picked up some lunch at a chicken place. Then we took a nap.

After nap we decided Lucas and I would stay at the hotel while Don went to Miguel’s wedding. I was bummed but we couldn’t take a sick kid to a wedding and I was also feeling under the weather.

We ordered a few slices of pizza and alfredo pasta. Lucas didn’t eat much at first. After awhile he decided we should go out for a walk around Flushing. It was nice to get out.

When we got back Lucas ate a lot more. We enjoyed the view from our hotel room. We could see Citifield, the city, and LaGuardia Airport. It was a lot of fun to watch the planes take off.